Behind every printed page is an array of chemicals, wastes, and emissions–much of which can be avoided through informed choices and sound management practices. Environmentally conscious companies select eco-friendly paper, inks, and printers for their projects.

Soy ink contains non-toxic soybean oil, the same oil which is used in cooking oils, dressings and thousands of other foods and beverages. Soy inks create rich, vivid colors that "pop" off the page. They are low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s). Soy inks are safe, sustainable, and made from a renewable resource. Compared to petroleum-based inks, soy inks are more easily stripped from paper during the de-inking and recycling process.

Any product printed with soy ink can carry its own “Printed with Soy Ink” logo.

Recyclable Paper

Papers qualifying as “recyclable” have no attachments which prevent them from being entered into conventional recycling programs. Paper can only be marked as recyclable if it can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse in the manufacture of another product through an established recycling program. The Federal Trade Commission’s Environmental Marketing Guides require marketers to qualify whether the product or package is recycled content or recyclable.

The chasing arrows symbol can be used without qualification only if the product or package is made entirely from recycled material and is commonly recyclable.

Recycled Paper

Paper or products made with paper can contain post-consumer or pre-consumer recycled fiber or both.

Post-consumer waste fiber (PCW) is generated from consumer end products that have been separated or diverted from the solid waste stream. Items that make up this type of fiber include office wastepaper, mail and magazines from people’s homers, and used packaging from delivered products.

Pre-consumer waste fiber is generated from materials that have not met their intended end-use by a consumer. Examples include waste from manufacturing, and converting and printing processes.

The chasing arrows symbol must note the amount of post-consumer waste in a tag line printed with the logo unless the paper is made from 100% recycled materials. No qualifying statement means the product is from 100% recycled fiber.